Ingredients

  • 1 ham shank (it has more meat than a hock)
  • 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can great northern beans
  • 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
  • 3/4 cup carrot, diced
  • 3/4 cup celery, diced
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (more or less to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried chipotle powder (chipotle chile powder)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 28 ounces chicken stock (which is 2 cans worth)
  • 8 ounces collard greens, which is about 3 to 4 loosely packed cups, I actually used a prechopped mix that had collard, turnip
  • salt and pepper (to taste)

Method

  • Place smoked ham shank in crock pot.
  • Open can of beans and rinse thoroughly. Place beans in a large bowl.
  • Combine all of the ingredients with the beans (except for salt and pepper) and mix thoroughly. Pour over ham shank.
  • Cover and cook on low for 7 - 8 hours. Remove ham shank from crock. Discard skin, fat and bone. Chop up remaining ham and put back into the crock. Add salt and pepper to taste and adjust any seasoning (more thyme, tobasco, paprika, etc). After adjusting I like to finish off by putting the cover back on and cooking for an additional 30 min on high just to let the adjusted flavor meld together. Remove bay leaves and discard. Portion into four bowls.
  • I had a multigrain baguette that I cut into slices. I smeared each slice with a thin layer of goat cheese and we ate that with it. But I bet cornbread would be equally delicious.